Rota, Baumholder starting to turn it around

Baumholder and Rota have taken their lumps in their respective football divisions in DODEA-Europe since 2022.

Halfway through the 2026 season, though, both programs not only are having their best campaigns this decade, but they also find themselves in the thick of postseason races.

Rota moved to 2-1 with a victory over Sigonella. After three consecutive winless seasons, the Admirals have picked up two wins in consecutive weeks.

The Buccaneers, meanwhile, bounced back from a loss the prior week to Spangdahlem with a victory in Brussels. They, too, improved to 2-1 and have equaled their win total from the previous three seasons combined.

Rota and Baumholder are in contention to make the nine- and six-man title games, respectively. The Admirals haven’t made a finals appearance since 2019, while the Buccaneers last won a European title in 2021.

Nine-man

Rota 48, Sigonella 6: The Admirals handled the Jaguars at home for their second straight victory.

Rota used a strong ground game to run past its opponent. The two-headed monster of Leland Colangan and Donnell Evans paced the hosts, with Evans recording 135 yards and three rushing TDs and Colangan totaling 125 yards on two scores.

Xavier Lozada added a 75-yard running touchdown while also throwing a 55-yard score to Lucca Guido.

Defensively, Leo McFarland picked off two passes, including one he returned for a touchdown.

Manuel Tamayo gave the Jaguars (0-3) a reason to cheer with a 70-yard touchdown reception.

After two home games, Rota travels to the Netherlands to take on AFNORTH on Sept.26. Sigonella, meanwhile, hosts International School of Brussels the same day.

Six-man

Baumholder 60, Brussels 26: The Buccaneers’ offense came back to life with a big win over the Brigands.

Quarterback Dewayne Washington tossed five touchdowns. The first was a 70-yard score to Jaylon Bilbrew and then four to freshman Chris Bowden of 70, 13, 26 and 90 yards. Washington went 9-of-14 passing for 319 yards and ran for a 27-yard score.

Bowden amassed 209 yards on four receptions. Bilbrew had 80 yards and a 41-yard TD on the ground. Pene Vaisagote ran the ball into the end zone twice and recorded 73 yards.

Vaisagote kicked two PATs, and Bowden added another.

Defensively for Baumholder, Bilbrew made 10 tackles and recovered two fumbles. Bowden chipped in with 8.5 tackles and picked off a pass, Vaisagote had 7.5 tackles, a sack and an interception. Washington and Levi Munyengwe each posted seven tackles, while Hector Baldo had 6.5 tackles.

For the Brigands (0-3), Luke Young threw two scores to Kelton Neal. Petar Pranjic and Dominic Young each ran one into the end zone.

Neal and Pranjic added extra points.

Luke Young added a sack on defense as well.

Baumholder hosts Ansbach in a big contest in the small-schools division on Sept. 25, while Brussels heads to Hohenfels for a game on Sept. 26.

Spangdahlem 62, Ansbach 19: The Sentinels continued their march toward another finals appearance with a big road win over the previously unbeaten Cougars (2-1) on Saturday.

A.J. Smith recorded five touchdowns, while Roman Wells added three scores for Spangdahlem (3-0). Solomon Wells successfully kicked seven PATs.

The Sentintels return to action on Sept. 26 at Alconbury.

Hohenfels 38, Alconbury 19: The Tigers won their first game in a long time with Saturday’s victory over the Dragons at home.

Ezekial Davenport paced Hohenfels (1-2) with three touchdowns and an extra point. Matthew Stellfox chipped in with another two touchdowns and Noah Henry returned an interception for a touchdown.

Benjamin Weiker had two scores and Andrew Barbee had another for the Dragons (1-2).